THE Issa Trust Foundation, in partnership with Direct Relief, has donated a total of US$19 million in pharmaceuticals with 41 shipments at no cost to the Government of Jamaica, to be distributed islandwide since 2015.

The foundation, which is the non-profit organisation founded by Couples Resorts in 2005 and headed by Chairman Paul Issa and president and CEO Diane Pollard, said in a recent release that Direct Relief has donated US$4.9 million in pharmaceuticals for this purpose since January 2018.

Many of the medications donated are difficult and expensive for the Government to acquire, such as medications for cancer, mental health and required blood clotting agents used during surgery, the release said. The donations of Survanta — which is used to treat Respiratory Distress Syndroms (RDS) in premature babies and can be cost prohibitive — have helped significantly in lowering neonatal mortality rates, Issa Trust Foundation said.

Pollard stated: “We are thankful for the generosity and humanitarian efforts by our partner, Direct Relief. The impact has been felt islandwide and has helped lower morbidity and mortality in addition to neonatal mortality rates. Last year, the devastating hurricanes that swept through the Caribbean called for significant humanitarian response. We hope the donations provide some relief and strengthen the country's disaster planning.”

In the meantime, Minister of Health Dr Christopher Tufton is quoted as saying: “The Issa Trust Foundation has brought tens of millions of dollars of medical supplies to Jamaica over the past four years and in so doing has saved the lives of countless Jamaicans.

“The efforts of the foundation in the area of neonatal care are particularly worthy of note, as it has relieved the shortage of life-saving medication for our nation's babies. We are deeply appreciative of the work of the foundation and its partner, Direct Relief, for the care and compassion shown to the Jamaican people in provided much-needed medication for mental health and cancer care,” he said. “Jamaica values the partnership with the Issa Trust Foundation and we in the Ministry of Health and at the National Health Fund will redouble our efforts to strengthen the relationship.”